Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)

Oz The Great and Powerful Synopsis

Disney’s fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.

Today is the day when, all around the world, fireworks are ignited as people celebrate the departure of 2014 and the arrival of 2015. So it seems only appropriate that we would end our year in cinema with a bang as well:

Don't cry for Disney. Thanks to the wild success of their first three releases of 2013, they've become the first studio this year to gross a billion dollars at the domestic box office. And just think how much more they are making in merchandizing.

This week is one of those weeks with so much brand new Blu-ray and DVD content, I wish I could just cuddle under my covers through Friday and power through TV shows like Major Crimes and The Newsroom and movies, including The Emperor’s New Groove 2-Movie Collection (never discount Disney’s two-for-one Blu-ray deals).

Oz The Great And Powerful is flying on to Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow and to celebrate the big release of the dazzling fairy tale flick, Walt Disney Home Entertainment has put together a few clips related to the film, including the one above, in which special effects, animation and costume flubs cause problems during filming, but make for an amusing gag reel.

After the rest of the world had an entire week to revel in the critically acclaimed Iron Man 3, this weekend Americans finally had their chance. While they turned out in horde-like droves, resulting in the biggest weekend at the box office so far this year, Iron Man fell short of being able to do alone what he had achieved with fellow Marvel characters in last summer's Avengers: break the record for biggest opening weekend.

Disney’s big budget live action adventure story, Oz the Great and Powerful had a long and bountiful run at the box office, earning $80 million in its first weekend in the US and going on to earn $482 million worldwide. Since it spent a long while in theaters, the film is getting a fairly quick Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download, and On Demand turnaround, too, hitting the market on June 11.

There were a lot of spectacular things on display in Oz the Great And Powerful, the giant fantasy movie that has ruled the American box office for the past two weekends. But with all credit to Sam Raimi and his amazing technical team, the film's most amazing moment might have come before the film even began, when the opening credits created by Garson Yu and his company plunge the audience directly into Oz's magical, old-timey world

Going into this weekend there was no real doubt that any of the new releases would be able to unseat Oz The Great And Powerful, the mammoth Disney release still making tons of money all over the globe. What's surprised everyone, though, is which movie came in second place. Besting the splashy studio comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, the Halle Berry-led thriller The Call made $6.2 million on Friday, good enough for a (distant) second place behind Oz

Looking to Oz the Great and Powerful, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and The Call for inspiration, we've pulled together a selection of before-they-were-stars titles, niche-career narratives, and star-fronted thrillers.

The elaborate opening credits in Oz, which are presented in the same limited aspect ratio and sepia tones of the film's early scenes, not only set up the mood of the 1905 Kansas carnival where we first meet Oscar, they hint at the spectacle to come-- and contain richer and deeper 3D than anything we'll see until we actually land in Oz

Many who saw Sam Raimi’s Oz The Great and Powerful this past weekend would likely agree that one of the best parts of the film is Zach Braff’s turn as the flying monkey Finley. Playing James Franco’s CGI sidekick, the actor is responsible for nearly all of the film’s best lines and works great with the film’s titular lead.

Oz the Great and Powerful is a certified hit, having made $80 million in the United States this weekend plus another $70 million across the world. Of course, Disney knew they had a hit on their hands before the movie even opened, setting up plans for a sequel, with writer Mitchell Kapner returning for the duties. But will Kapner be handing his script in to Sam Raimi again?

Oz The Great And Powerful is a huge movie, and is easily the biggest of 2013 so far. But anyone who was getting excited for something record-shattering, or even on par with Disney's own Alice in Wonderland, may be disappointed today

Criticizing the state's government spending, writer Jarrett Skorup reports $39.7 million was awarded to the production of Walt Disney's Oz: The Great and Powerful to shoot within the state. He says this means every taxpayer in Michigan chipped in essentially $8.82 toward the film, more than the average ticket price to see a movie in this country. The problem is, Skorup is not presenting these as fun facts, but as evidence that the government is spending their tax money poorly.

If you hated Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland the way we did, you might be cringing at the sight of another brightly colored fantasy world, filled with recognizable stars and action and everything perfectly calibrated to appeal to as many people as possible. But Oz is directed by the likable Sam Raimi, and stars the very likable Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz (plus James Franco, who's also there somehow)

It's not totally fair to keep comparing Oz The Great And Powerful to Alice in Wonderland-- Sam Raimi's movie is much better than Tim Burton's, for one thing-- but when it comes to box office receipts, the comparison may be exactly as close as Disney dreamed. Most people in the industry have been projecting a big weekend for Oz, a very expensive tentpole for Disney, and now the midnight grosses have started to bear that out

Now Disney is back with Oz the Great and Powerful, which is kind of like a spiritual sequel to Alice-- a 3D movie set in a familiar fantasy world that seems to demand to be seen on the big screen. Given how far 3D technology has come in the last three years, Oz seems to be offering an even better experience than Alice, especially with the playful Sam Raimi-- who never misses an opportunity to make the audience jump in their seats-- behind the camera

Audiences certainly expect to see allusions to Victor Fleming's 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, and won't be disappointed. But as Oscar "Oz" Diggs made his way through poppy fields, wacky wilderness and over the yellow brick road, I couldn't help but notice director Sam Raimi was pulling from some unexpected inspirations.

It’s somewhat strange to watch Sam Raimi’s Oz The Great and Powerful as a direct prequel to The Wizard of Oz - particularly in regard to the Witches. If the classic story tells us anything it’s that one witch is good and floats around in bubbles...

Disney has high expectations for Sam Raimi's Oz The Great and Powerful. The film came together right after the billion dollar success named Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and it's been reported that the movie has a budget of $200 million.

It was over a decade ago that Sam Raimi first cast James Franco as his Harry Osborn for what would become the Spider-Man trilogy. Over the course of three movies we watched Harry change as a character, but also saw Franco develop as an actor.

Mila Kunis, who during an apparently dull press day for Oz the Great and Powerful, came across a newbie to the junket world, and behold! A lively and unpredictable interview was born. Kunis is all support and energy as she urges him to talk about himself, then—prompted by clearly irked PR peeps—expertly coaches him through the movie's talking points.

It was a rough weekend for fantasy, as Jack the Giant Slayer took the top of the box office with a paltry $28 million, falling behind even the much-publicized flop John Carter from this time last year. But somehow Disney is planning to follow-up Jack's failure with their own high-fantasy effort, and one that's on track to do way, way better with audiences

Fantasy is on the rise in Hollywood at the moment. As Bryan Singer tries to coax movie-goers up the beanstalk this weekend for Jack the Giant Slayer, Sami Raimi is hoping that audiences will have enough interest in a balloon trip to Oz next week.

Sam Raimi has introduced us to The Evil Dead, taken us to new heights with Spider-Man, and showed us sheer terror in Drag Me To Hell. Next up, the filmmaker with a B-movie taste for gore and goofiness will take us deep into the wonderful world of Oz, to a time before that girl and her little dog touched down in their flying house

“Immersion” has become a popular word in Hollywood today. Most notably it’s been thrown around the world of 3D, with directors like James Cameron talking about using technology to make movie screens windows to wider universes, but it’s become a big part of the film-going experience outside of the theater as well.

Directed by Sam Raimi, the prequel to the Wizard of Oz centers on Oscar (James Franco), a magician and part-time con-man who finds himself on the run after swindling a town. Fleeing in a hot air balloon, he winds up getting stuck in a tornado and transported to the magic land of Oz.

Everyone knows that the Super Bowl broadcast is one of the biggest advertising opportunities around, and that fact isn't lost on the major movie studios. Every year they shill out millions upon millions of dollars to take advantage of the incredible number of viewers watching. Last year brought previews for movies like The Avengers, 21 Jump Street, The Hunger Games, John Carter, and Battleship. But can we expect from this year's how?

That clip contains footage we’ve already seen, briefly explaining how James Franco’s magician ends up in the land that exists somewhere over the rainbow. The rest of the teaser will air during Sunday’s Super Bowl (though we don’t know yet during which quarter it will air).

It's unlikely that Sam Raimi's upcoming Oz The Great and Powerful will feature characters like Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman or the Cowardly Lion, but that doesn't mean that the film will be short on things you recognize. The main character, Oscar (James Franco), presumably goes on to become the titular figure in The Wizard of Oz.

The last time that James Franco was in a Sam Raimi film he was riding a hover-snowboard and wearing body armor while trying his hardest to avenge his father's death and murder Spider-Man. This March, however, he reunites with Raimi wearing a much different costume and is ready to cast a spell over the Land of Oz.

If you do the math, either Weisz or Mila Kunis has to grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West in Raimi’s prequel to The Wizard of Oz. But that won’t happen until the end of Raimi’s movie, if in fact the bridge extends between this prequel and the original film.

Disney is encouraging you to stop watching the dropping Times Square ball long enough to Tweet your New Year’s wish to #DisneyOz. They’ve even made a nifty countdown montage of Great and Powerful footage to help put us all in the New Year’s Eve mood.

It felt like it took forever for Sam Raimi's Oz The Great and Powerful to get from pre-production to completion - it started production in July 2011 - but we are finally closing in on the release date. We've already seen a couple of trailers, a number of stills and even a fun triptych poster, but now it's time for what looks like a series of character one-sheets.

While watching The Wizard of Oz, did you ever wonder what the deal was with the man behind the curtain? Despite being named for him, that beloved family favorite only gives a brief glimpse at a person who was once a nobody but became a living legend in the magical land of Oz. From 1939 classic, we know that he—like Dorothy—originally hailed from Kansas, and was brought to Oz by a runaway hot air balloon. And this is where the latest trailer for Disney's Oz The Great And Powerful begins.

Directed by Sam Raimi, Oz The Great And Powerful tells the story of a con-man named Oscar Diggs (Franco) who winds up in the land of Oz and convinces everyone that he is a great wizard. While he's seen as a great hero and welcomed as royalty, the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams) are a bit more skeptical.

For what it was, the last Oz The Great And Powerful poster was actually fairly serene. Yes, the center of the image was the Wicked Witch of the West and that tree stump sure did look spooky, but they were surrounded by waterfalls, soft beams of light and small creeks with flower beds beside them. For the latest one-sheet they've gone in a different direction - and by that I mean they tossed the kitchen sink at it.

Oz: The Great And Powerful could be the enchanting and wonderful prequel we’re all crossing our fingers for, or it could be an expensive and miserable mess. We won’t know until May, but based on the early footage and promotional materials, I am comfortable in saying the film will do at least one thing right. With vibrant costumes aggressive pops of color and larger than life scenescapes, Oz will be one of the most visually interesting films offered at the box office next year.

It's still going to be a while before we actually get to see Sam Raimi's Oz: The Great and Powerful, but today delivered one hell of a preview. Sam Raimi, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis were all on hand at San Diego Comic Con where they revealed the film's first trailer, but that's not all they did.

The trick of the change from black and white to color, and from the square aspect ratio to glorious widescreen, is such a great twist on The Wizard of Oz's classic change from black and white to color that it makes me automatically want to see what else Sam Raimi has up his sleeve

The Disney panel rolls along in Hall H, and next up is Oz: The Great and Powerful, which as you can tell from the title takes us back to the world first created by Frank L. Baum in his novels and immortalized in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. But this time around we're not following Dorothy and her little dog

Last last month, we got our first look at James Franco for Sam Raimi's upcoming Oz The Great and Powerful. As great as it was to get a glimpse of Franco in costume for his role as Oscar Diggs in the Disney adventure film, this newly released poster gives us even more to look forward to from the movie, which will take movie-goers back into the Land of Oz to explore the origins of the titular wizard in L. Frank Baums classic story The Wizard of Oz.

Production wrapped a long time ago on Sam Raimi's Oz: The Great and Powerful, but it's still going to be a long time until we actually get to see the finished product. Going through production last year, the movie is still going through the editing process, as it has more than a few visual effects. and won't be arriving in theaters until March 8, 2013.

I can only imagine what it was like to see The Wizard of Oz for the first time back in 1939. After spending your entire life watching movies in black and white, all of a sudden there was Judy Garland standing on a yellow brick road in a blue dress wearing ruby slippers. The transition is one of the most iconic parts of the movie and it's likely that we will never see anything like it ever again (even the 3D transition in Tron Legacy couldn't match that impact).

The actor revealed that he has indeed filmed a cameo in Oz: The Great and Powerful. While he wouldn't get into specifics, he reiterated that the scene that he's in is "pivotal" and added the detail that it involves a confrontation with Oz, played by James Franco. Talking about the production, Campbell said, "The scene that I shot was a page [of the script] and it took all day.

While Michelle Williams is likely getting more buzz these days for My Week with Marilyn, which arrives in theaters on November 23rd, she also has Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful in the works. Williams had some interesting things to say about playing the iconic Glinda in the film.

Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi have been attached at the hip. Though Campbell hasn't actually starred in any of Raimi's movies since 1992's Army of Darkness, the director has always given his acting pal an awesome cameo, be it his appearance at the end of Darkman or his three different roles in the Spider-Man trilogy.

When it comes to actor/director pairs, it doesn't get much better than Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi. Though Campbell hasn't actually been the lead actor in any of Raimi's movies since Army of Darkness, the filmmaker loves to give his friend bit roles, be it Liam Neeson's final disguise in Dark Man or the multiple parts in the Spider-Man franchise.